Susan Long

 

 

 

Susan Long is the UK's leading fabric sculptor using this still relatively unknown but very effective technique... Susan's unique creations are an interesting contrast to more traditional sculpture and statuary. She uses environmentally friendly resin to individually create hardened, weatherproof fabric sculptures, and wall murals. A very effective way of introducing colour and 'movement' into your garden or home.

Susan is a self taught artist and began her artistic career by drawing and painting cartoon characters on her bedroom wall as a young teenager! Emigrating to South Africa in the early 1980's she continued her artistic journey in several different mediums including hand-woven mohair tapestries. She moved to the UK in 2000 and continued with watercolours while dabbling a little in ceramics until early 2006 when she discovered her talent for creating with fabric!

Every sculpture is individually created by her hands in Shropshire and each piece is unique from the making of the frame to the dressing and draping of the fabric to the completion of the sculpture so although may it be similar to another piece, no two are ever identical.

The fabrics are washed in an environmentally friendly hand coloured resin and while the fabric is wet and saturated Susan creates the forms and folds over the framework. The sculpture is then allowed to dry cure and finishing touches are added to further individualise each unique piece.

Susan uses fabric to create an alternate art-form using my Pisces fluidity, intuitive life influences, experiences, inspirational thoughts and occasionally drawing from mythology, the fabrics are transformed into unique physical form, the resulting work is full of contradictions: serene, alive, whimsical, surreal, mundane and full of vitality, all at once. It revels in its medium, but goes beyond what one may expect from fabric. Its exquisite detailed folds and drapery supports its bold energy. Making sculpture from fabric presents unique challenges and creative possibilities - and it has given Susan an unusual freedom in creating sculpture and art. Her creations offer a unique alternative and interesting contrast to more traditional sculpture and statuary. Each piece tells a story or has an attitude, but the facts are always open to interpretation. Susan treats fabric not as a flat surface but as a fluid flexible skin for three-dimensional figurines, dancers, contemporary abstract climbing figures and wall murals.

Each sculpture is fully weatherproof and can be occasionally cleaned or rinsed with cold water and a soft cloth or left to weather in the garden.

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